and Observations on the component Parts of Membrane. 30,1 



sometimes the addition of gelatin in different proportions, yet, 

 as in certain' membranes and such like substances, portions of 

 muscular fibre were at times found joined or interwoven ; and 

 as muscle, ligament, and tendon, seem to glide almost imper- 

 ceptibly into each other, I was almost unavoidably induced to 

 make some experiments on muscular fibre. 



The muscular fibre on which the greater part of these expe- 

 riments was made, was that of beef; and, in order to separate 

 the liquid albuminous part or lymph as much as possible, a 

 quantity of lean muscle of ox beef, cut into small thin pieces, 

 was macerated during 15 days in cold water, and was subjected 

 to pressure each day, when the water was changed . The weather 

 was very cold ; and the maceration was continued to the end of 

 the 15th day, without any sign of putrescency. 



The shreds of muscle (amounting to about 3 pounds) were 

 then boiled with about 6 quarts of water, during 5 hours ; and, 

 the water being changed, the same was repeated every day, 

 during the course of three weeks ; at the end of which time, the 

 water afforded only slight signs of gelatin, when infusion of 

 oak-bark, or nitro-muriate of tin, was added. After this, the 

 fibrous part was well pressed, and was dried by the heat of a 

 water bath. 



Some of the muscular fibre thus prepared, was steeped in 

 nitric acid diluted with three measures of water, during 15 days. 

 The acid acquired a yellow tinge, and possessed all the pro- 

 perties of the nitric solutions of albumen. 



The fibre which had been thus steeped in the acid, was 

 (when washed) dissolved by boiling water, and by evaporation 

 became a gelatinous mass; which, being again dissolved in 

 boiling water, was precipitated by infusion of oak-bark, and, 



mdccc 3 E 



